Theater-seat hat-holder.



E. J. WHITMAN.

THEATER SEAT HAT Hmmm.

APklJCATION FILED MAR. Z. 914.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

. EMMA J. WHITMAN, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

THEATER-SEAT HA'nnoLDER.

Speelcatioxi of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 22, 191 4.

Application led March 24, 191'4. Serial No. 826,899.

Befit'known that I, Mrs. EMMA J. WHIT- a'r'A', 'a citizen of the United States resid ing at Oakland, in the 'county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new-v a'nd useful Improvements in Theater-Seat Hat-Holders, of vwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hangers, for hats, garments and other articles, and is especially constructed for ap plication to the backs of seats, in theaters or other places of assembly where ordinarices require the removal of hats, and there is a consequent need of a proper support therefor, and for other articles of dress. The object of the invention is to provide a simple, substantial, cheaply manufactured hanger or hook, which is so constructed that it may be swung to one side or the other of the back of the seat to which it lis attached when not in active use, and is so 'shaped that it will not obstruct or hinder persons desiring to pass between the seats, nor'present any sharp or angular projecting parts liable to catch in the wearing apparel of the penV son passing.

Another object of the invention is to provide the hanger with a spring-actuated cam which will hold the hanger either in the closed or extended position.

F'gure 1 is a side elevation partly in section, of the back of a chair,'showing the application 'of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the hat hanger with supporting bracket. F ig. 3 is a plan View of the back of a chair showing the application of the device. gig. 4 is an enlarged-section on line X--X,

ig. 2, showing the position of the cam when the hanger is extended. Fig. 5 is a similar section, showing the position of the cam when the hanger is folded to one side.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a4 bracket plate which is ada ted to be secured to the back of a seat as at in any suitable manner, or as here shown, by screws 2. Se

cured to the plate, orA formed integrally with same is aI pair of projecting bearing flanges 3 and 4 in iwhich is pivotally mounted a rod 5. The lower end of the rod is reduced in diameter as at 6, to form a shoulder which will prevent the rod from slipping down through the bracket bearings 3 and 4, while the upper end of the rod is considerably extended and slightly bent as at 7 to form a hook or hanger upon which hats or other arlil) the spring when the hanger is swung out into theextended position, indicated in Figs:

1, Qand 3, is flat as Iindicated at 12, and conside'rahly wider than any other portion of the cam, the large beari'ng surface thus produced u'pon' which the spring pressure is exerted is more than sufficient to hold the hanger in the extended position. The sides of the cam are similarly flattened, as indicated at 13 and 1st, to provide surfaces with which the spring may engage to hold the hanger in the closed position.

The hanger here shown is simple and substantial in construction, and cannot possibly get out of order. The pivotal mounting of the hanger permits it to be swung to either one side or another against the back of the seat, /as indicated by dotted lines at 15and 16, in Fig. 3 Where the space consumed is the smallest possible, and where it cannot intertere with a person passing..

Theangular form of the hanger gives a very large opening or capacity when in the extended position, thus permitting hats of large size to be accommodated without subjecting them to any unnecessary pressure which might destroy the shape or crush ,the trimmings.

The upper end of the hanger is preferably provided with a. knob 18. constructed of resilient material, such as rubber or the like. T he knob thus applied does not only act as ahead for, the hanger, but also serves the function of a cushioning member which pre` vents the hanger from coming int-o actual contact with the surface of the seat, thus deadening the sound of contact when thel hanger is swung into closed position and also preventing the surface from becoming marred.

Another important advantage gained by the peculiar construction of the hanger is this: A person leaving his or her seat, and forgetting to close the hanger, does not 1nconvenience anotherperson desiring to pass, for the simple reason that the hanger swings closed by itself in either direction by theslight pressure which is exerted upon it when contacting with the passing person.

llO

The materials and finish of the several parts of the device are such as the expert ence and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate I Wish it understood that Various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the speoiic design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

The combination wi'tha seatback of a plate adapted to be secured thereto, upper and lower flanges disposed at right angles to the plate, a leaf spring havin its lower end xed to the lower end of the p ate, the upper end of said spring being spaced from the plate and disposed adjacent theupper flange, a'rod journaled in the upper flange and having a bearing in the lower flange, a cam detachably connected to the rod and bearing against the under surface of the upper ange to prevent upward movement of the rod, said cam having a flat front face and con vergingly arranged side faces, the upper end of said rod terminating in an angularly disposed hanger, the upper end of the hanger being adapted to yieldably engage the seat back when eitherl one of the side faces of the camris engaged with the spring, and to be held spaced from said back when the spring engages the front face of the cam, as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereumo set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. y

Mns. EMMA J. WVHITMAN. Witnesses: y

LILLIAN M. WISEEART, Mun'mn Zum; 

